Pressure-regulator for fermented liquids



(No Model.)

W. R. FREEMAN.

PRESSURE REGULATORTOR PERMENTED LIQUIDS. No. 251,428. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

A I I 1 T N, P515135. Phalo-Lilhogmphur. W:1shinglvarl.D.C.

STATES ITE PATENT FF@ WILLIAM R. FREEMAN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,428, dated December 27, 1881.

Application filed September 29, 1880. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. FREEMAN, of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pressure-Regulators for Fermented Liquids,of which the followin gis a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved automatic hydraulic apparatus for supplying compressed air to kegs or casks containing fermented liquids, to replace the vacuum caused by drawing off a portion of the said liquid, and thus to maintain a uniform pressure in such vessels so long as any portionof their contents remains to be drawn therefrom.

The construction and operation of my present invention will be fully understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, which represents a vertical central section of the said pressure-regulating apparatus connected by an intermediate compressed-air reservoir to an ordinary beer-keg. Air condensed by hydraulic pressure is fed into and stored in a reservoir connected by pipe and check-valve to the'keg. When the water-cylinder (the air-compressor) is full at float therein closes the supply-valve and opens the discharge-valve, allowing the water to flow out and air to enter through a vacuum -valve. hen the cylinder is thus emptied of water the discharge-valve is closed and the supply opened.

For want of space the upper part of the air compressor andapparatus is shown on the drawing at the upper left side, instead of directly above the lower part, which latter is shown at the right.

' A designates the air-compressor--a preferably cylindrical vessel-provided at the top with a vacuum-valve, a, and in the interior with a float, B. This latterhas a vertical opening formed by means of a tube, b, through which the valve-rod O, common to both supply and discharge valve, is inserted, in order that the said valves may be operated by the rise and fall of the said float as the latter, in its movements, comes in contact with one or the other of two pins or collars, c o, secured on the valverod 0 respectively above and below the float. The valve-rod O is guided to slide in stuffingboxes (I e, arranged respectivelyin the air-con ducting vertical tube D, attached to the cover of the air-compressor A, and in the water-conducting tube E, attached to the bottom of the air-compressor A vertically below and in line charge-pipe f, threaded into the lower end of pipe E. The valve I is a compound valve, having a central opening, in which is fitted an inner sliding or puppet valve, I, which latter has a central opening, in which the rod 0 slides. The hollow stem of the inner valve, I, extends below the main surface of the valve I, and has lateral projections j on its lower end to prevent it from gettingoutot'itsplace. The rod 0, which fills the hollowva-lve-stem, is grooved a distance below it, or made cruciform'in cross-section, thereby forming channelsg, through which water will discharge when the rod is raised high enough to expose a portion of the said grooves or channels above the valve I. The latter remains closed or resting upon its seat-f until raised by the pin or collar-i upon the rod G as the latter ascends. ()n the rod again doscendin g the valve may be prevented from accidental suspension by beingdepressed by the pin or collar 1', fastened on the rod above the valve. The collart' mn y, however, be dispensed with.

The water entering (as indicated by the arrows 1) gradually fills the cylinder A and 0 unpresses the air therein. The float B rises with the water-surface, and slides upon the yet stationary rod 0 away from the collar 0 until, by engaging with the upper collar, 0, it has lifted the rod 0 sufficiently to close the valve. H, at which instant the collar t" engages with the under side of the valve I and opens the same, whereupon the waterisdischarged through the pipes 1 andf, and the float B again descends, and the several parts resume about the position shown in the drawing. In consequence of the vacuum formed in the cylinder A on the descent of the float, the vacuum-valve a is kept open by the atmosphericpressure until the cylinder is again filled with air of the same pressure.

It is evident that when the plunger H enters the nipple e, and thus cuts off the water-supply, the float rises no higher to open the discharge-valve I; but the plunger H, forced by the pressure of the entering water, continues to ascend and to lift the valve I farther from its seat until the cylinder A has emptied its water through the pipes Ff, or in direction of the arrows 2. The whole weight of the float, unsupported by water, then rests upon the lower collar or pin, thereby depressing the -rod G until the supply-valve is again opened and the discharge-valve closed. The upper end, (3, of the rod 0 is provided with a weight, K, proportioned to a certain pressure upon the valve-piston H, said weight, of course, not to exceed the bearing capacity of the float. It is evident that a discharge-valve of excessive area would receive sufficient pressure in direction of arrows 2 (when the plunger H had entered the nipple e) to overbalance the pressure in direction of arrows 1, and thus remain closed, thus rendering the apparatus inoperative. This is, however, prevented, while yet allowing of a liberal discharge area, by the com pound valve and channeled rod before described. Before the collar or pin t" on the ascending rod 0 strikes the valve I the channels g should be in position to project their upper ends slightly above the valve, thus allowing water to discharge through the said channels and removing the pressure on the corresponding valve area. As, accordingly, the plunger H continues to rise the collar Q" will strike the lower end of the hollow stem of the inner valve, 1, and, raising the latter, relieve the valve of all the pressure due to that area. Finally the collar 45 will raise the outer ring or annular surface of the valve Ifrom its seat. By thus subdividing the valve in two or more parts, successively operated, its area may be made large enough to discharge the water as rapidly as may be desired. The compressed air passes from the cylinder A, through pipes D L, check-valve M, and pipe N, to a reservoir, O, and from thence (or directly from pipe N) through the check-valve P and pipe Q to the keg or other vessel, R, the check-val ve P preventing any return of the air from the keg R to the reservoir 0, and the check-valve M preventing return of air from reservoir 0 to the cylinder A, which otherwise would occur when the float descends. The reservoir 0, charged with compressed air, keeps on replacing the vacuum caused by drawing from the keg R, while the cylinder A receives fresh airsupplies through its vacuum-valve a. To prevent, however, an overpressure of air in the reservoir and pipes, as might occur when the keg has been left intact for a while, I enlarge the diameter of the upper end, 0', of the rod 0 and pack it by a stuffing-box, T, fitted in the upper end of a pipe-connection, S, above the stuffing-box d, and then connect the part S by a flexible or other pipe, U, to the pipe L (or N) at some point between the check-valve M and the reservoir 0. By this construction an excess of back-pressure from the reservoir 0, acting on the enlarged area of the end 0 of the rod (J, will raise the latter and close the water-supply valve H, thereby preventing any further compression and feed of air in and from the 7 cylinder A until the pressure in the reservoir 0 has been reduced by utilizing the air in the keg R.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an air or fluid compressor, the supplyvalve H, adapted to be closed by means substantially as shown, and when closed to act as a piston for opening the discharge-valve by suitable connections between it and the discharge-valve, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the vessel A, having suitable air-inlet, a, and with the pipes E.

F Gr, of the floatB and the central rod, O,having pins or collars c 0 i, and provided with the fast-piston supply-valve H and the loose discharge-valve I, the said rod working in a watertight packing, e, separating supply and discharge valves H I, the whole operating together substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the common valverod 0, having the fast-piston inlet-valve H, and the lifting pin, collar, or shouldert", of the loose compound dischargevalve I I, composed of successively separable sections of different areas, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the compressed-air reservoir 0, compressing-vessel A, and suitable connecting-pipes between the two with the check-valve M and pipes U, with the connection S, the two stufling-boxesdT, the weighted rod 0, having an enlarged upper end, 0, in the box T, and the supplyvalve H, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an air or fluid compressor, the rod 0 and the compound valve I, said valve being composed of sections of different area, and each section openedin succession by the movements of the rod 0, as and for the purpose specified.

WVM. R. FREEMAN.

Witnesses:

A. W. ALM vIsT, JOHN M. STELLE- IIO 

